
Specifications
Year: 1938
Manufacturer(s): Gustloff Werke; Rheinmetall-Borsig - Nazi Germany
Roles: Anti-Tank/Anti-Material/Breaching;
Manufacturer(s): Gustloff Werke; Rheinmetall-Borsig - Nazi Germany
Roles: Anti-Tank/Anti-Material/Breaching;
Action: Single-Shot; Manually-Acutated Bolt-Action System
Caliber(s): 7.92x94mm Patronen
Sights: Front Post; Rear Notch.
Overall Length: 1,615 mm (63.58 in)
Barrel Length: 1,085 mm (42.72 in)
Weight (Unloaded): 35.71 lb (16.20 kg)
Caliber(s): 7.92x94mm Patronen
Sights: Front Post; Rear Notch.
Overall Length: 1,615 mm (63.58 in)
Barrel Length: 1,085 mm (42.72 in)
Weight (Unloaded): 35.71 lb (16.20 kg)
Muzzle Velocity: 3,970 feet-per-second (1,210 meters-per-second)
Rate-of-Fire: 10 rounds-per-minute
Effective Range: 1,640 ft (500 m; 547 yd)
Rate-of-Fire: 10 rounds-per-minute
Effective Range: 1,640 ft (500 m; 547 yd)
Operators: Nazi Germany
In service, the PzB 38 showed some promise but its complicated design and high-cost manufacturing process ensured that there would be problems in-the-field (with the complicated breech block arrangement) and production would never realistically keep up with the wartime demand. However, as the war progressed and Allied armor grew increasingly more stout, the tactical value of this prewar design grew limited in turn with capability enough against just light armored vehicles by the end.
As such, the PzB 38 series was only in serious use throughout the early war years and abandoned as soon as better alternatives were brought online - either through direct replacement by the PzB 39 series or through shoulder-fired, rocket-propelled, armor-defeating weapons like the Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck.
The PzB 38 fired an armor-piercing variant of the German 7.92mm rifle cartridge (7.92x94mm Patronen). The weapon measured 63.5 inches long with the stock fully extended and her barrel alone was 42.7 inches in length. The folding stock and bipod attachments allowed for some transportability but the system remained heavy at its core - weighing some 36 lb. Muzzle velocity was rated at 3,970 feet-per-second and 25mm thick armor penetration against a 90-degree surface was good out to 328 yards. Damaging a key component (track, engine block, driver's position) of a tank or armored vehicle was better than nothing.
Variants / Models
• Panzerbusche 38 (PzB 38) - Base Series Designation.
• Panzerbusche 39 (PzB 39) - Lightened, streamlined improved version replacing the PzB 38 series.